Environmental advocates protested at U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam's office Monday, speaking out about fears that the Trump administration will reverse progress made to protect the globe from climate change.

About 200 people crowded into a conference room down the hall from Roskam's office at DuPage Airport in West Chicago holding placards that read "Follow the science" and "Climate Action Now." The protest was timed to occur during Trump's first 100 hours as president.

"Roskam is not exactly a climate change proponent. He has a bad record when it comes to this environmental issue," said Tim Milburn, of the Northwest Cook County Group of the Illinois Sierra Club.

Representatives from the Sierra Club and Union of Concerned Scientists, as well as the Northern Illinois Jobs and Justice directed criticism to Roskam, R-Wheaton, saying their greatest worry is that nothing will be done to slow rising global temperatures.

Linda Girardi / The Courier-News

Mary Shesgreen, of Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice, supports a move from a fossil-fuel-based economy to a renewable energy economy Monday at a protest near the West Chicago office of U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton.

Mary Shesgreen, of Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice, supports a move from a fossil-fuel-based economy to a renewable energy economy Monday at a protest near the West Chicago office of U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton. (Linda Girardi / The Courier-News)

Jack Darin, executive director of the Sierra Club's Illinois chapter, said Trump and his administrative team have proposed controversial policies that would take the cause "backwards" and "erase the gains" that have been made in moving toward "clean energy, reducing air pollution and creating jobs in renewable energy technology."

"The president has called climate change a hoax and has denied the science of this great challenge to our whole civilization," Darin said.

"Rep. Roskam supports an all-of-the-above approach when it comes to energy," read a statement issued by the Congressman's office Monday. It further stated, "American ingenuity can make it possible to rid ourselves of our dependence on foreign oil and eliminate a major national security threat."

Darin said the environmental advocates need to "lace-up" their shoes and organize to get the administration to listen. He said the people of the 6th congressional district didn't vote against science or to stop creating jobs in solar, wind and energy conservation or to opt out of the global effort to help solve climate change.

Linda Girardi / The Courier-News

Laurie Morse of northern Dupage County at Monday's standing room only protest

Milburn said he thought Trump is "testing the waters" on climate change policies. He said rather than be discouraged, environmental proponents need to "keep their thumb on the scale" to get more constituents to be vocal. Other topics of concern include the EPA Clean Power Plan to put limits on coal-fueled plants and the Paris Agreement to slow climate change.

"There is a glimmer of hope," he said. "The majority of the voters in the 6th congressional district want a clean environment and the economic benefits. The hope is that people will band together," Darin said.

Mary Shesgreen, of Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice, said they support a move from a fossil-fueled based economy to a renewable energy economy.

"If we had wind and solar, small towns could build their own wind farms and individual households (could have them). Imagine energy independence meaning we are independent from the fossil-fuel companies," she said to applause.

Mary Alice Masonica of Elgin said she has met with Roskam in his Barrington and Washington D.C., offices as a member of the People's Climate Movement.

"We have a proposal that would support a fee on carbon emissions. He was rather dismissive the last time we met with him," she said.

Susan Wagoner, of Aurora, said she considers herself a "friend" of the environmental groups. "This is going to be a rocky road," Wagoner said. "We have elections in two years - we hope they listen to us," Wagoner said.